05/02/2026
‘Fearfully and Wonderfully Made’, on the well being of disabled and neurodivergent clergy, was conducted by Bournemouth University academics Dr Alex Fry and Dr Sally Lee, with research assistant Olivia Vezey.
The authors of the report spoke to 27 clergy or ‘dialogue partners’ who are either disabled or neurodivergent, or both, for the report.
The report is the fifth focussed’ independent study published by the programme, and comes after research into ethnic minority clergy and clergy from working class backgrounds.
Writing in a foreword to the report, the Bishop of Bedford, Richard Atkinson, the Church of England's lead bishop for disability, said: “The participation and flourishing of disabled and neurodivergent ordinands and clergy is at the heart of being that Church that God desires.
“The Body of Christ in which every part is honoured. I greatly welcome ‘Fearfully and Wonderfully Made’ as an important building block in taking forward this commitment to the full participation of disabled and neurodivergent people in the life and ministry of the Church.”
- Read the full report here: 'Fearfully and Wonderfully Made' report
- The Living Ministry programme has focused on the five interrelated area of wellbeing: physical and mental wellbeing, relationships, spiritual and vocational wellbeing, financial and material wellbeing and participation in the life of the Church. Its fifth and final panel survey report was published in December: Living Ministry final panel survey published | The Church of England
- The final qualitative panel study report will be published around the end of 2026.
- Details of the Church of England’s Disability Project can be found here: Disability Project awarded £5 million in funding | The Church of England
- You can read more about the joint Queen’s Foundation Birmingham and St Mellitus College research project into good practice in the formation of neurodivergent lay and ordained ministers here: More than £1.3 million approved for innovation in theological education | The Church of England